Gov’t to private sector: Provide shuttles for workers, encourage WFH

MANILA: As the government struggles to find the balance between safety and mobility during the pandemic, Malacañang reiterates its request for the private sector to provide shuttles for employees and to only require half to come to work.

“We have to consider, however, that Metro Manila, is still under general community quarantine; thus, the threat of COVID-19 still exists and is real,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Only a limited number of PUVs (public utility vehicles) have been allowed to operate in order to minimize the risk of spreading the virus and also discourage people from going out and traveling unnecessarily.

“At this juncture, we still cannot let all modes of transportation to be on the streets. This will defeat the purpose of quarantine. Unless a vaccine or cure is available, we must not let our guards down,” Roque added.

The government stresses the importance of a “gradual, calibrated, and partial” resumption of public transport as evidence by the two-phased approach of the DOTr (Department of Transportation).

We are currently in the second week of Phase 1 with 12 PUB (public utility bus) routes, 28 P2P (point-to-point) routes, and 31,700 taxis and TNVS (transport network vehicle services) units.

As of today three more routes have been opened and these are:

- Route 8 (Cubao-Montalban)
- Route 24 (PITX-Alabang)
- Route 25 (BGC-Alabang)

Phase 2 begins June 22, 2020.

Free rides for healthcare workers and medical front-liners from various agencies of the government also continue to ply 20 routes to 95 hospitals around Metro Manila.

“The government is trying to do more in order to help of everyone. What the administration is doing is balancing the need to revitalize the economy so that we can have livelihood and jobs while looking out for and protecting the health and safety of the public as well,” Roque said.

Photo from Department of Transportation

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